Cas. He speaks home, madam; you may relish him more in the soldier, than in the scholar. Iago. [Aside.] He takes her by the palm: Ay, well said, whisper: with as little a web as this, will I ensnare as great a fly as Cassio. Ay, smile upon her, do; I will gyve''t thee in thine own courtship. You say true; 'tis So, indeed: if such tricks as these strip you out of your lieutenantry, it had been better you had not kissed your three fingers so oft. Very good; an excellent courtesy! 'tis so, indeed. [Trumpet.] The Moor, I know his trumpet. Cas. 'Tis truly so. Des. Let's meet him, and receive him. Enter OTHELLO, and Attendants. Oth. O my fair warrior! Des. My dear Othello? Oth. It gives me wonder great as my content, To see you here before me. O my soul's joy! If after every tempest come such calms, May the winds blow till they have waken'd death! And let the labouring bark climb hills of seas, Olympus-high; and duck again as low As hell's from heaven! If it were now to die, 'T were now to be most happy; for, I fear, My soul hath her content so absolute, That not another comfort like to this Succeeds in unknown fate. Des. The heavens forbid, But that our loves and comforts should increase, Even as our days do grow! Amen to that, sweet powers! Oth. [Kissing her. And this, and this, the greatest discords be, That e'er our hearts shall make! Iago. O, you are well tun'd now! But I'll set down the pegs that make this musick, As honest as I am. Oth. [Aside. Come, let's to the castle, News, friends; our wars are done, the Turks are drown'd. How do our old acquaintance of this isle? I have found great love amongst them. O my sweet, In mine own comforts. I pr'y thee, good Iago, Go to the bay, and disembark my coffers: Bring thou the master to the citadel ; He is a good one, and his worthiness Does challenge much respect.-Come, Desdemona, Once more well met at Cyprus. [Exeunt OTHELLO, DESDEMONA, and Attendants. -list Iago. Do thou meet me presently at the harbour. Come hither. If thou be'st valiant as (they say) base men, being in love, have then a nobility in their natures more than is native to them, me. The lieutenant to-night watches on the court of guard: First, I must tell thee this Desdemona is directly in love with him. 3 Rod. With him! why, 'tis not possible. -- Iago. Lay thy finger - thus, and let thy soul be instructed. Mark me with what violence she first loved the Moor, but for bragging, and telling her fantastical lies: And will she love him still for prating? let not thy discreet heart think it. Her eye must be fed; and what delight shall she have to look on the devil? There should be, loveliness in favour; sympathy in years, manners, and - 2 Much solicited by invitation. 3 Listen to me. 1 beauties; all which the Moor is defective in: Now, for want of these, her delicate tenderness will find itself abused, and begin to disrelish and abhor the Moor; very nature will compel her to some second choice. Now, sir, this granted, (as it is a most pregnant and unforced position,) who stands so eminently in the degree of this fortune, as Cassio does? a knave very voluble; no further conscionable, than in putting on the mere form of civil and humane seeming, for the better compassing of his hidden affection? why, none; why, none: A subtle knave: besides, the knave is handsome, young; and hath all those requisites in him, that folly and green minds look after: A pestilent complete knave; and the woman hath found him already. Rod. I cannot believe that in her; she is full of most blessed condition. + Iago. Blessed nonsense! if she had been blessed, she would never have loved the Moor: Didst thou not see her touch the palm of his hand? didst not mark that? Rod. Yes, that I did; but that was but courtesy. lago. By this hand; an index to villainous thoughts. - But, sir, be you ruled by me: I have brought you from Venice. Watch you to-night; for the command, I'll lay 't upon you: Cassio knows you not; I'll not be far from you: Do you find some occasion to anger Cassio, either by speaking too loud, or tainting his discipline; or from what other course you please, which the time shall more favourably minister. Rod. Well. Iago. Sir, he is rash, and very sudden in choler; and, haply, with his truncheon may strike at you: Provoke him, that he may for, even out of that, will I cause these of Cyprus to mutiny; whose qualification shall come into no true taste again, but 4 Qualities, disposition of mind. by the displanting of Cassio. So shall you have a shorter journey to your desires, by the means I shall then have to prefer them; and the impediment most profitably removed, without the which there were no expectation of our prosperity. Rod. I will do this, if I can bring it to any opportunity. Iago. I warrant thee. Meet me by and by at the citadel: I must fetch his necessaries ashore. Farewell. Rod. Adieu. [Exit. Iago. That Cassio loves her, I do well believe it; That she loves him, 'tis apt, and of great credit: The Moor,-howbeit that I endure him not, Is of a constant, loving, noble nature; And, I dare think, he'll prove to Desdemona A most dear husband. Now I do love her too; Not out of absolute lust, (though, peradventure, I stand accountant for as great a sin,) But partly led to diet my revenge, For that I do suspect the Moor Othello 14 Hath wrong'd me in my bed: the thought whereof That judgment cannot cure. Which thing to do,- 5 Worthless hound. 6 The term for a clog put on a hound to hinder his 7 In the grossest manner. running. And practising upon his peace and quiet Even to madness. 'Tis here, but yet confus'd; Knavery's plain face is never seen, till us'd. [Exit. SCENE II. A Street. Enter a Herald, with a Proclamation, People following. 8 Her. It is Othello's pleasure, our noble and valiant general, that, upon certain tidings now arrived, importing the mere perdition of the Turkish fleet, every man put himself into triumph; some to dance, some to make bonfires, each man to what sport and revels his addiction leads him; for, besides these beneficial news, it is the celebration of his nuptials: So much was his pleasure should be proclaimed. All offices are open; and there is full liberty of feasting, from this present hour of five, till the bell hath told eleven. Heaven bless the isle of Cyprus, and our noble general, Othello! [Exeunt. SCENE III. A Hall in the Castle. Enter OTHELLO, DESDEMONA, CASSIO, and Attendants. Oth. Good Michael, look you to the guard tonight: 8 Entire. 9 Rooms, or places in the castle. |